mother earth
1. The earth considered as the mother of its inhabitants and productions; also (in somewhat jocular use, with allusion to this), the ground.
Cf. L. Terra mater (as a goddess). In Eng. the personification remains so far that the article is commonly omitted as before a proper name, although initial capitals are rarely used. Often with possessive, my, your, etc.
| c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxlvi. ii, His strength is none, if any in his breath; Which vapor'd foorth to mother earth he goes. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 19 He..With bloudy mouth his mother earth did kis. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. i. ii. 213. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 687 Men also..Rifl'd the bowels of their mother Earth For Treasures better hid. 1696 Tate & Brady Ps. civ. 29 Forthwith to mother Earth return. 1766 Compl. Farmer s.v. Vegetation, The sun,..cannot either help the mother earth in her pregnancy, nor [etc.]. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles xiv. 137 It is..made a misdemeanour against mother earth to sleep..with only the heavens above the sleeper. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 292 The unbounded treasures of mother earth. |
2. (See quots.)
| 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Earth, Some by Loam mean that Sort of Earth that equally partakes of Sand and Clay, being a Medium between Sand and Clay, which they call Mother-Earth. 1766 Compl. Farmer s.v. Mould, Mould, a loose kind of earth, every where obvious on the surface of the ground, called by some mother earth, and by others loam. |